Preparing for Japan's seasons

Preview

Japan's year has sharply defined seasons, and each asks something different of you. The rainy season runs for several weeks in early summer. Humidity is high and mould appears readily in cupboards and bathrooms; dehumidifiers and steady ventilation make a large difference. Laundry dries slowly, so it helps to decide in advance where you will hang it indoors. From summer into autumn is typhoon season. When one is forecast, bring balcony items inside, keep a few days of water and food, and charge your phone. Check in advance how your municipality issues evacuation information. This preparation is essentially the same as earthquake preparation, so assembling it once serves you all year. Peak summer brings a real risk of heatstroke, indoors as well as out. Use air conditioning rather than enduring the heat, and take both fluids and salt. Older family members and small children need particular attention. Winter varies enormously by region. Where it snows, heating, condensation, and icy pavements all become daily concerns. Most homes are not well insulated, so heating tends to be room by room. If you use a kerosene or gas heater, ventilate the room regularly — this is a safety requirement, not a comfort preference.